CHIPMAKERS
TSMC misses revenue target
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) on Monday posted NT$233.91 billion (US$7.63 billion) in revenue for last quarter, missing its revenue target of between NT$236 billion and NT$239 billion. The world’s biggest contract chipmaker attributed the weaker-than-expected performance to a strong New Taiwan dollar. The appreciation of the NT dollar against the greenback caused quarterly revenue to fall by about NT$6 billion, the firm said in a statement. Revenue rose 14.9 percent from NT$203.5 billion in the first quarter of last year.
CHIPMAKERS
Several arrested for theft
US memorychip maker Micron Technology Inc yesterday said prosecutors in Taiwan have been conducting criminal investigations that have resulted in the arrests of several people for alleged theft and misuse of the company’s intellectual property. Micron supports the investigations and has been cooperating fully with authorities, it said. The company said it aggressively protects its intellectual property, and that in the event that an individual or company tries to steal rather than license its technology, it would use all legal and appropriate tools available to prevent, detect and punish such efforts.
SMARTPHONES
Genius reports monthly loss
Genius Electronic Optical Co (玉晶光), which supplies camera lenses for Apple Inc’s iPhones, yesterday said it lost NT$53.26 million in February. That represented losses per share of NT$0.53, a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange yesterday showed. Genius was requested to release its earnings, as its shares have surged by about 73 percent since early last month. The company posted NT$314.43 million in net profit for the final quarter of last year, more than triple the same period a year earlier. Earnings per share jumped to NT$3.16. Genius shares yesterday fell 2.66 percent to NT$310.5 in Taipei trading.
DISPLAY MAKERS
Innolux revenue skyrockets
Innolux Corp (群創), the nation’s biggest LCD panel maker, on Monday said revenue last month soared 67.6 percent to NT$31.4 billion, compared with NT$18.71 billion in the same period last year. Monthly revenue rose 14.4 percent from NT$27.41 billion in February. Shipments of PC and TV panels grew 20.5 percent to 102.3 million units from a month earlier. Innloux also reported that its shipments of small and medium-sized panels jumped 37.4 percent monthly to 25.47 million units. Revenue soared 52.5 percent from NT$56.42 billion to NT$86 billion year-on-year, but declined 3.8 percent quarterly, the company said. AU Optronics Corp (AUO, 友達光電) reported that revenue last month rose 18.2 percent to NT$31.05 billion, compared with NT$26.27 billion in March last year. AUO generated NT$88.56 billion in revenue, up 24.5 percent annually.
ENTERTAINMENT
SNSPlus inks licensing deal
Local game developer and distributor SNSPlus Inc (好玩家) yesterday said it inked a US$1.7 million agreement with Kadokawa Games Ltd to obtain the Japanese company’s game distribution rights in the Asia-Pacific region, excluding China. The collaboration will deepen the relationship between the two companies and help expand SNSPlus’ business in Asian markets, SNSPlus said in a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange. SNSPlus said it foresees the Kadokawa distribution rights to benefit its revenue and profitability this year.
Singapore-based ride-hailing and delivery giant Grab Holdings Ltd has applied for regulatory approval to acquire the Taiwan operations of Germany-based Delivery Hero SE's Foodpanda in a deal valued at about US$600 million. Grab submitted the filing to the Fair Trade Commission on Friday last week, with the transaction subject to regulatory review and approval, the company said in a statement yesterday. Its independent governance structure would help foster a healthy and competitive market in Taiwan if the deal is approved, Grab said. Grab, which is listed on the NASDAQ, said in the filing that US-based Uber Technologies Inc holds about 13 percent of
The domestic unit of the Chinese-owned, Dutch-headquartered chipmaker Nexperia BV will soon be able to produce semiconductors locally within China, according to two company sources. Nexperia is at the center of a global tug-of-war over critical semiconductor technology, with a Dutch court in February ordering a probe into alleged mismanagement at the company. The geopolitical tussle has disrupted supply chains, with some carmakers reportedly forced to cut production due to chip shortages. Local production would allow Nexperia’s domestic arm, Nexperia Semiconductors (China) Ltd (安世半導體中國), to bypass restrictions in place since October on the supply of silicon wafers — etched with tiny components to
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday received government approval to deploy its advanced 3-nanometer (3nm) process at its second fab currently under construction in Japan, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said in a news release. The ministry green-lit the plan for the facility in Kumamoto, which is scheduled to start installing equipment and come online in 2028 with a monthly production capacity of 15,000 12-inch wafers, the ministry said. The Department of Investment Review in June 2024 authorized a US$5.26 billion investment for the facility, slated to manufacture 6- to 12nm chips, significantly less advanced than 3nm process. At a meeting with
Taiwan’s food delivery market could undergo a major shift if Singapore-based Grab Holdings Ltd completes its planned acquisition of Delivery Hero SE’s Foodpanda business in Taiwan, industry experts said. Grab on Monday last week announced it would acquire Foodpanda’s Taiwan operations for US$600 million. The deal is expected to be finalized in the second half of this year, with Grab aiming to complete user migration to its platform by the first half of next year. A duopoly between Uber Eats and Foodpanda dominates Taiwan’s delivery market, a structure that has remained intact since the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) blocked Uber Technologies Inc’s
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